Misfire #3 cyl. Help needed

Hi Everyone,

I had a new one hit me today. Car was running fine, then at a stop light the car started running rough check engine light came on and it sounded like a tractor. I pulled into a parking lot and hooked up m code reader and came back with a P0303 code. I checked the area round the #3 coil pack and found what looked like a spring comming out from under the coil pack. I am assuming the boot must have had a hole and shorted out against the head. Replacing the boot and plug is easy enough. But what would cause it to sound like a tractor putting along? Could it be a plug blown out of the head? I have heard of this on the Triton truck motors. Is this also a issue on Crown Vic PI?

If you click on the first photo it with link you to a video. So you can hear the sound it is making. The second photo shows the spring.

Thanks for your time and any help.
Erik

P0303 misfire 4.6l Crown Vic by E Crawley, on Flickr

Blown out coil boot 2004 Crown Vic 4.6l by E Crawley, on Flickr

A plug blowing out would not be unheard of with these motors. Also though the '99 and on cars had a limp mode built in to keep them from damaging the motor. I have not had mine go in to limp mode so I am not sure what it sounds like, but it does limit your maximum speed, etc.... Also a plug blowing out of the head could do what you show in the pic of your coil as well.

Update to my problem.

FYI It was a blown out plug. I had the problem comfirmed by a Ford service tech. I got lucky the coil boot shorted and blew up and the plug unscrewed itself and did not damaged the threads. So a new coil boot and spark plug and $12.25 later. The Vic is back up and running good as new.

Erik